This year's back group could be the deepest it has been in a few years, due to the many ways each player can attack opposing defenses. One of those players is junior Jeremiah Cobb, who received quite a bit of praise from his head coach this week.

It makes sense to consider Auburn an afterthought in the Southeastern Conference. After all, the Tigers have endured four consecutive losing seasons — their longest such skid in nearly eight decades — and failed to find much consistency since Tommy Tuberville’s heyday 20 years ago.

The 60-minute litmus test awaiting the Tigers and coach Hugh Freeze could well be the closest you get it counting a little bit more.